Human Rights

Iran: Death Sentence for Facebook Posts

Imminent Risk of Execution for ‘Insulting the Prophet’

Iran’s judiciary should vacate the death sentence of a 30-year-old man who faces imminent execution for Facebook posts linked to his account. On November 24, 2014, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld a criminal court ruling sentencing Soheil Arabi to hang. The court transferred his file to the judiciary’s implementation unit, opening the way for his execution.

Improving the humanitarian situation of Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons

A PACE committee has urged all sides in the conflict in Ukraine to fully respect the Minsk ceasefire and to refrain from the use of force and violence, particularly against civilians.

Missouri Police Officer Who Shot Unarmed Teen Resigns

The white Missouri police officer who escaped indictment in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen in August has resigned.

Giovanni Buttarelli named new data protection watchdog

The next European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) will be Giovanni Buttarelli, Parliament's President Martin Schulz announced in plenary on Thursday. His Assistant Supervisor will be Wojciech Rafał Wiewiórowski.

Promoting the democratic participation of migrant diasporas

Diasporas play a more prominent role in today’s politics than in the past, PACE's Migration Committee has said, and the members of diasporas can build bridges between States and help to promote democracy both in their countries of residence and in their countries of origin.

Appeals Court Must Fix Dangerous 'Innocence of Muslims' Copyright Ruling

Faulty Decision from Ninth Circuit Panel Endangers Free Speech, Historical Record

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and a coalition of technology and free speech organizations are asking the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to fix a disastrously wrongheaded copyright ruling that required an online service provider to take offline—and keep offline—a controversial video that has been the center of a global debate.

Uzbekistan: US Should Use Summit to Confront Abuses

Scale of Crisis Requires Tough, Coordinated Approach

The US administration should raise Uzbekistan’s abysmal human rights record at bilateral talks on December 1-2 and consider tough measures – including targeted sanctions – if concrete improvements are not made urgently. A tough, no-holds-barred approach could help mitigate some aspects of Tashkent’s ongoing rights crackdown.

Deadly Boko Haram attack forces thousands to flee Nigeria for Niger – UN

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Refugees and returnees who have fled Boko Haram violence in Borno State, Nigeria, sheltering in Niger's Guesseré village on the border.

Thai media continues to violate children’s rights, including the regular disclosure of the identify of child victims

Children’s rights continue to be regularly violated in Thai newspaper and television news coverage, according to a media study supported by UNICEF Thailand and released.

Egypt: Trial Shows Need to Combat Female Genital Mutilation

Lack of Investigations, Prosecutions, and Convictions Fosters FGM

Egyptian authorities need to take clear action to end the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) following the country’s first trial on the crime ending in acquittals, Human Rights Watch said.

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